Display stand for toy soldiers or other merchandise



22, 1938. w. A. COVENTRY 2,112,070

DISPLAY STAND FOR TUY SOLDIERS OR OTHER MERCHANDISE Filed Nov. 23, 1936 I @QWM INVENTOR.

41 14 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 22, 1938 PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY STAND FOR TOY SOLDIERS OR OTHER MERCHANDISE William A. Coventry, Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, Pa., assignor to Grey Iron Casting Company, Mount Joy, Pa a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 23, 1936, Serial No. 112,260

3 Claims. (01. 211-442) The present invention relates to display devices and more particularly to a display device for exhibiting toy soldiers or other merchandise.

Department stores and other dealers endeavor to exhibit to prospective purchasers samples of their merchandise in an eifective manner without waste of space. Many articles of merchandise such as games may be exhibited by merely removing the cover of the containerin which they are shipped and allowing the public: to view them in the container. Large articles may be conveniently viewed without the need of any particular display device. other relatively small toys may not be advanta- 5' geously viewed when merely stood on a counter top, as the counter space is: usually limited and when such toys are placed close together, the toys nearest the prospective customer will hide thoseat the rear of the group. In addition, toys stood in this manner upon a counter top are easily knocked over. Various types of display devices have been devised for displaying merchandise, but none of them is entirely satisfactory. Their deficiencies are particularly objectionable when used for displaying toy soldiers and other objects which are diflicult to maintain in standing posi-- tion. r

The present invention aims to overcome the above and other similar difficulties by providing an inexpensive device adapted to display rows of toy soldiers, clowns and other relatively small toys in upright position, and further aims to provide a display device which may be shipped in fiat position and may be quickly and easily a? erected, and which has novel structural features enhancing its utility and appearance.

An object of the present invention is to provide anefiective display standfor toy soldiers,clowns and other merchandise.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive display stand for toy soldiers, clowns and other similar small toys, which may be readily manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display stand which may be shipped flat and which may be quickly erected to display position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display stand adapted to cooperate with a suitable platform for exhibiting toy soldiers, clowns and 507 other articles, andadapted to be used in conjunction with other similar display devices.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a display device adapted to sup-port toy soldiers, clowns and other similar articles in erect position 55: and to minimize disarrangement thereof occa- Toy soldiers, clowns andsioned by accidental disturbance of the display stand or of the toys thereon.

A still further object is to provide structural features in the display device adapted to improve the appearance and utility thereof and to make the structure more rugged without increasing the cost thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or willbe indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein willoccur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the two supporting members utilized for supporting a series of steps;

Fig. 3 is a' detailed fragmentary sectional View along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the attachment of the: step member to the supporting member;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken centrally of the platform and step member along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of one corner of the platform illustrating the construction thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating one display device and platform used in conjunction with another.

Referring again to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown in perspective, a preferred embodiment of the invention. Generally described, the construction comprises a shelf part I supported at an angle of about thirty degrees to the horizontal to provide a series of shelves in stepped relation for displaying toy soldiers and the like. A suitable platform 2 is attached to the upper end of the shelf part to form a substantially horizontal continuation thereof suitably supported by brackets, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

In the preferred embodiment, the stairway preferably comprises the shelf part proper, designated by the numeral 3, with a pair of supporting members. 5 atthe respective sides: thereof, which are held in position at a suitable angle. The detailed constructionaof .the supporting mem-' bers 5 is shown more particularly in Fig. 2 and comp-rises a strip of sheet metal folded longitudinally along substantially the middle thereof to provide a vertical flange 6 and a lateral flange I substantially at right angles to each other. The free edge of each of these flanges is preferably folded inwardly, as shown at 8 and 9, and flattened against the flange to provide a folded edge which eliminates rust and sharp projections. In addition, these inturned edges cooperate with the step or shelf portion, as will be described hereinafter. The lower ends of the supporting members 5 may have their upper corners removed, as indicated at l0, and apertures H and I2 may be provided in the vertical flange at the lower and upper ends, respectively, for attaching supports therefor.

The shelf or display portion 4 is preferably made from a sheet of decorated or coated metal bent to provide a series of substantially horizontal shelves I 4, spaced one above another and connected by substantially vertical riser portions I5 when this part is mounted upon the supports and held in inclined position.

The shelf part 4 is preferably mounted upon and secured to the supporting side members 5, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. The lateral or supporting flanges I of the supporting members 5 extend under the sides of the step portion 4 and the vertical flanges 6 bear against and close the ends of the shelves. The inturned edge 9 on the lateral flange l bears against the lower apices l6 of the step portions to support it in position. The step portion may be secured to the supporting members in any suitable manner, but preferably several of the lower apices are welded to the lateral flanges of the supporting members intermediate the inturned edge and the vertical flanges 6. By so doing, there is a resilient action tending to hold the inturned edge 9 firmly against the shelf portion, which increases the rigidity of the construction. Preferably, the inturned edges 8 on the vertical flange member are directly above the upper apices of the shelf portions, substantially concealing the side edges of the member 4. Any other suitable means may be utilized, if desired, for securing the supports to the shelf member. I

Simple and effective means for supporting the step member 4 and supporting members 5 in inclined position may be provided by utilizing a strip of metal I8 having a horizontal middle portion adapted to rest on a counter or other support with upstanding end portions [9 having apertures 20 therein adapted to register with the apertures i2 in the supporting members 5 and be secured thereto by a bolt or other attaching means. Suitable apertures 20 are provided at the lower portions adapted to be similarly attached to supporting members 2| which may be formed from metal strips with apertures at their respective ends. The apertures in the upset ends of the members 2! register with the apertures I I in the supporting members and are secured thereto in any suitable manner to hold the display in rigid position. The inclination of the step member is determined by the relative lengths of the supporting members 5, l9 and 2|.

The structure described above provides a series of shelves one above another in stepped relation somewhat similar to a stairway. Toys such as toy soldiers may be placed on these shelves in upright position and will be visible as an entirety. If the toys should be suificiently tall for one row to obscure the lower portions of an adjoining upper row, they may be placed on every other shelf instead of on each shelf. Considerable difficulty is encountered in maintaining small objects in upright position due to jars, movement of the display and accidental engagement with the toys. To increase substantially the stability of the toys and to minimize the above difficulty, the shelf portions I4 herein are inclined slightly with respect to the horizontal when in set up position so that the toys are tilted backwardly slightly. The amount of the inclination may depend, in some measure, on the type of object to be displayed, but with toy soldiers of the type illustrated herein, an inclination of approximately eight degrees has been found to be very effective. To cooperate with the shelf portions, the vertical portions [5 lean forwardly over the lower shelf portion some nine or ten degrees, depending on the type of article displayed. When toy soldiers are placed on the shelves preferably they are permitted to rest against the upper apex of the respective shelves with the heel of the soldier substantially against the vertical portion. In this way, the feet are firmly on the shelf portion and the back of the legs rests against the apex of the riser portion and supports the articles more firmly in position. Preferably, the lower end of the shelf part ends in a shelf with the free edge folded downwardly and backwardly to give it a smooth folded edge. The upper end of the shelf part preferably ends in a vertical portion likewise having its end folded as shown at 24, to present a folded edge.

While the parts described above present an effective display, the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of a suitable platform 2 secured to the upper end of the display. The platform may be of any suitable construction but, preferably, comprises a sheet of metal bent downwardly at its front end, as shown at 25, and upwardly at its rear end, as shown at 26, with the edges folded throughout the four sides to eliminate projections and minimize the opportunity for rust. The flanges 25 and 26 are preferably at an acute angle to the base part, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4, with the downwardly extending flange extending over and mating with the upwardly extending vertical portion on the member 4. The upwardly extending flange is at an acute angle substantially similar to the angle of the step portions in the member 4.

The platform 2 may be secured in position by means of the brackets 21 comprising strips of metal with apertures at their respective ends, the aperture at the lower end being adapted to register with and be secured to the bolt and aperture 20 of the part I9, the upper end being flanged at an angle, as shown at 28, to fit against the bottom of the platform and with the apertures therein registering with the apertures 29 in the platform and secured thereto by suitable bolts or other means. The length of the brackets 21 is preferably such as to incline the platform downwardly, the inclination being substantially the same as that of the shelves or shelf portions. In this way, toy soldiers may be placed in a row against the flange 26 in the same way that they are placed on the shelves and will be supported and held in upright position in a similar manner by the forwardly extending flange 26.

In Fig. 6, two of the display devices are shown placed in end to end relation to form a continuously ascending display device of twice the height of a normal display. The second display device may be supported on a block or other stand. If

desired, additional display stands may be placed in ascending relation behind those illustrated in Fig. 6. In addition, a number of display stands may be placed side by side to provide a wider display. While the display stand has been shown in the drawing with the detachable platform at tached thereto, it is to be understood that this may be dispensed with in any desired instance.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an inexpensive display device adapted to support toy soldiers, clowns or other merchandise in display position and to minimize disarrangement thereof due to shocks, jars or to movement of the display device. The device may be shipped in flat position, minimizing the space occupied, and may be quickly and easily assembled by the purchaser. In addition, a detachable platform may be used in conjunction withthe display to provide a large exhibit and, if desired, several of the displays may be utilized in conjunction with each other for a similar purpose.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.'

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a display stand the combination of a display part formed from a sheet of material bent to provide a series of shelves in stepped relation connected by riser portions, said riser portions and shelf portions being at an acute angle with respect to each other to form stabilizing means for the articles to be displayed thereon, supporting members at the ends of said shelf portions each formed by a strip of metal folded longitudinally to provide supporting and vertically extending flanges with the longitudinal edges thereof bent back upon the flanges to provide folded edges, said bent back portion on one flange being in engagement with the bottom of said display part, said folded edge on the other flange being directly above the apioes formed by the shelves and riser portions, and means for connecting the bottom portion of said supporting members to said shelf part intermediate the vertical flange and said folded edge on the supporting flange to hold the folded edge on the supporting flange firmly against the bottom of the display part,

2. In a display stand the combination of a display part formed from a sheet of, material bent to provide a series of shelves in stepped relation connected by riser portions, supporting members at the ends of said shelf portions each formed by a strip of metal folded longitudinally to provide supporting and vertically extending flanges with the longitudinal edges thereof bent back upon the flanges to provide folded edges, said bentback portion on one flange being in engagement with the bottom of said display part, said folded edge on the other flange being directly above the apices formed by the shelves and riser portions, and means for connecting the bottom portion of said supporting members to said shelf part inter- V mediate the vertical flange and said folded edge on the supporting flange to hold the folded edge on the supporting flange firmly against the bot- 7 ing flanges with the longitudinal edges thereof bent back upon the flanges to provide folded edges, said bent back portion on one flange being in engagement with the bottom of said display part, said folded edge on the other flange being directly above the apices formed by the shelves and riser portions, means for connecting the bottom portion of said supporting members to said shelf part intermediate the vertical flange and said folded edge on the supporting flange to hold the folded edge on the supporting flange firmly against the bottom of. the shelf part, a pair of supports for holding in raised position the upper ends of said supporting members and said display part, and a pair of members connected to the lower ends of said pair of supports and to the lower ends of said supporting members to hold said display part in inclined position and to provide a unitary structure which may be placed on any horizontal support.

WILLIAM A. COVENTRY. 

